Business hub to inspire Indigenous entrepreneurial spirit

Monday 3 Apr 2017

A program to help
Indigenous businesses grow and succeed will be launched in Albury on Wednesday
5 April by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in conjunction with the NSW Government
and its Boosting Business
Innovation Program.

The Walan
Mayinygu Indigenous Entrepreneurship Pop Up Hub, developed by CSU Associate
Professor Michelle Evans, aims to further nurture Indigenous businesses across
NSW in 2017.

"Walan Mayinygu, which means 'strong for people' in Wiradjuri, is
about strengthening Indigenous entrepreneurship and business nous at the
regional level in grassroots firms across NSW," explained Professor Evans from
the University's Faculty of
Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences.

"We are hoping to engage and inspire Indigenous business people and
those thinking of going into business by offering workshops, master classes, opportunities
to present and pitch their business ideas, trade shows and networking events,
with the help of established Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Professor Evans is
well placed to lead this program, having co-founded the Melbourne Business
School's MURRA Indigenous Business Master Class Program, a business leadership
development program for established Indigenous entrepreneurs.

As part of the Walan
Mayinygu program, Pop Up Hubs will visit communities for one week at a time in Dubbo
starting on Monday 28 August, Albury from Monday 9 October, and Port Macquarie on
Monday 5 March 2018. A date for Lismore will
be advised after the recent floods.

"The roaming Pop
Ups will overcome geographical isolation to provide productive spaces for
individuals and communities to generate their own business ideas and ultimately
build momentum for the Indigenous Australian entrepreneurial sector," Professor
Evans said.

During each Pop
Up visit, entrepreneurial education and practical workshops will be delivered
by appropriate experts and successful Indigenous entrepreneurs, including
alumni of the MURRA Indigenous business master class program.

In addition, the Pop Up Hubs will improve
access by participants to government departments, private firms and not-for-profit
organisations to develop business relations; bring designers, developers and
entrepreneurs together in 'tech hackathons' to encourage networking and
collaborative work; provide opportunities to work with customers to hone sales
skills; and provide co-working spaces.

Once the Pop Up moves on, participants
can continue to engage with the program through the Walan Mayinygu website.

"For Indigenous
communities, economic empowerment through job creation and business development
and innovation is recognised as a key factor in closing the inequality gap and
improving health outcomes and quality of life for Indigenous Australians,"
Professor Evans said.

Research from the
Australian National University showed that Indigenous self-employment has
almost tripled between 1991 and 2011, increasing from 4 600 to 12 500.*

For interviews on
the program with CSU Associate Professor Michelle Evans, in Albury-Wodonga,
contact CSU Media. For further information on the Boosting Business Innovation
Program, contact the Department of Industry on 0437 504 752 or send an email.

The Walan
Mayinygu Indigenous Entrepreneurship Pop Up Hub program will be officially
launched on Wednesday 5 April in the Retro Café, off QE2 Square, Dean St,
Albury, between 11am and 12 noon. For interviews at the event, contact Wes Ward
from CSU Media on mobile 0417 125 795, or Mayrah Sonter from 33 Creative on
mobile 0405 834 016.